Carpenter&#39;s measuring tool



Jan. 6, 1925- *i 1,521,980

P. W. ZOOK CARPENTERS MEASURING TOOL A TTOHME V8 Jan. 6, 1925- 1,521,980

l P. ZOOK GARPENTERf-s MEASURING Toor.

Filed April 3o, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'za 'l Patented Jen. 5, 1925..

PETER W'ALDO" ZOUK, OE URBANA, ILLINOIS.

UARPENTERS- MEASURING- TOQOL.

Application filed AprilSO, 1923. Serial No. 635,726.

Be it known that. I, PETER 'VALDo-Zooii, a citizen of the United States,and a resident ofA Urbana, in the county of- Champaign and State ofIllinois, have invented new and` useful' Improvements in CarpentersMeasuring Tools, of which clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in` carpenters n'ieasuring tools,and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangementsherein described and. claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device ot' the character otwhich the exact .length of commonv rafters after each one-half inch riseabove a five inch rise, and the length of the hip or valley for the samerise, at any desired pitch from Zero to twenty four inches may beinstantly calculated. In the ordinary type of device it would benecessary to employ a square of extremely great. length to accomplishthis result, but in my present invention, l have devised a novel meansfor accomplishing the result with a square not larger than the ordinarytwo-foot steel square in common use in carpentry.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a device yor the characterdescribed by means of which the difference in length of the jacks forthe raftersl at predetermined centers may be simultaneously calculatedwith the length of common rafter. p

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which certain of the'measuring blades may be reversed, andupon which the exact side cut for the jacks, or the side cut for the hipor valley, may be determined;

A further object of my invention is to jn'ovide a device of thecharacter described which makes use of the ordinary carpenters two-footsteel square as a separable part of another device. j

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed by means of which taper cuts readable in inches per foot runfor a. given angle, may be instantly read. The latter feature is mostimportant in determining such measurements as are necessary to constructa smoke stack, column, or the like.

Other objects and advantages will` appear in the followingspeci'iication, and the novel.

the following is a full,

described by means,

features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

part of this apinvent-ion is illustrated in the accom- Figure 6 is aview of the mechanism illustrated in, Figure 1 with the auxiliary vruleand blade applied thereto, and

Figure 7 is a lsectional view 7-7 of Figure 6. Y In carrying out myinvention, I make use of the `ordinary type of carpenters two-foot steelsquare 1 calibrated in inches. at the outermost edges 2 and 3 thereof. Ametal protractor 4, preferably of steel, is constructed With an integralsocket 5. on one side of the base portion 6V arrangedto receive thevshorter of the two sides of the steel square (see Figure 2) so that theprotractor and the square, when assembled, will have the appearanceshown in Figure 1, that is, with the remote edge 7 of the protractor atthe twelve inch mark on the shortestside ofthe square.

The protractor 4 isprovided with a down.- wardly extending wing 8 at theremote end of its base portion 6, which wing has a slot 9 punchedtherethrough terminating at its upper end in anA enlarged circularrecess 10. The protractor l -is provided with an arcuate slot 11therethrough yconcentric withv the graduated scale 12 thereof, the scale12 being graduated in degrees from zero degrees to ninety degrees.Thisscale 13 is disposed adjacent to the upper edge of the slot 11. i 'Asteel blade 14 is provided with apair of mushroom buttons 15V at' itslowermost along the line slot when the stem is at the lowermost portionof the slot. The blade 14, the reverse side of which is illustrated inFigure 5, is `provided with a substantially rectangular opening 16therethrough in registration with the slot 11 when the stem of thebutton 15 is at the lowermost port-ion of the slot 9. A binding thumbnut 17, having a rectangular work engaging surface 18 arranged to passthrough the opening 16 when in registration therewith, is provided forclamping the blade 14 against movement relative to the protractor 4.This end is accomplished by the provision of a second clamping mem ber19 having a threaded bore 2O therethrough arranged to engage with athreaded stem 21 which projects inwardly from the surface 18 of the nut17. Obviously, when the nut 17 is turned to the position shown in Figure3, the blade 14 may not move away from the protractor, but when the nut17 is turned a quarter of a turn to the left, the flange 18 will permitthe outward movement of the blade 14, since the flange is then inregistration with the opening 16 and consequently permitting movement ofthe blade Each side of the blade 14 is divided longitudinally into foursections, and legends having predetermined values are disposed in eachof the columns so formed. The first column 22 bears legends designatinglength of common rafter for each one-half rise above live inches up totwenty four inches. The second column bears legends designating lengthof hip or valley rafter for each one-half rise above ve inches up totwenty four inches. The third column 24 bears legends designating thedifference inlength of jacks, sixteen inch centers, while the fourthcolumn 25 bears legends designating the difference in length of jacks,twenty four inch centers.

The reverse side of the rule 14 is also divided longitudinally into fourcolumns. .The first column 26 thereof bears legends designating the sidecut for jacks. The second column 27 bears legends designating a side cutsheet for hip or valley. The third column Q8 bears legends indicatingthe side cut for hip or valley ridge, and the fourth column 29 bearslegends designating the side cut sheet for hip or valle-y ridge.

It is apparent from the illustration in Figure 1 that great difficult-ywould be had in calculating measurements for relatively high pitch, andthat this would necessitate the use of a steel square of extraordinarylength which of course would be too cumbersome to permit the usethereof. I therefore have devised a novel construction in the provisionof an auxiliary rule by means of which measurements for relatively highpitches may be accurately read. This auxiliary rule is indicated at 30and has the side walls of its outer ends 31 and 252 beveled and arrangedto fit into a dove tail slot 33 in the rear wall of the protractor 4(see Figure 7). rl`he rule 30 is marked olf on one side with legendshaving values from 25 to 4S, and on the other side and readable from thereverse direction with legends having values from 49 to 96. It will beseen therefore that this auxiliary rule when used may take the place ofa steel square having a length of substantially eight feet on one. side.It will be noted that the legends from 25 to 28 are substantially closertogether than the legends on the steel square, and that the legends from49 to 96 are closer together than those designating values from 25 to48. In Figure 6 I have shown the auxiliary rule 30 in use and set sothat the legends having values from 25 to 48 may be employed. Thedovetail socket 33 has its right hand wall in exact registration withthe six inch mark on the short side of the steel rule 2, or on a markprovided on the protractor 4 indicating the six inch position of thesquare. If the auxiliary rule 30 is to be reversed, the legends havingvalues from 49 to 96 to be employed, then it is inserted in a dovetailsocket 34 having its right hand edge in exact registration with a nineinch mark Yon the steel square 1 or in registration with a mark on theprotractor designated in the position of the nine inch mark of thesteelsquare if the square be absent.

@bviously it is necessary to employ blades similar to the blades 14 butcalibrated in higher values for use with each of the two sides of theauxiliary rule 30. Such a blade is provided at 35 Figure 6 in which onlyone side of the blade is illustrated, since the opposite side of theblade is calibrated in legends similar to the legends illustrated inFigure 5, but of higher values. There are two of the auxiliary blades,one of them illustrated at 35 and another indicated in dotted lines at36. The blade 36, like the blade 35, is calibrated in values which readproperly when used in conjunction with the reverse side of the rule 30.The protractor 4 has a horizontal scale 37 thereon bearing legendsindicating the slope of a straight; edge per foot at any degree. Thisscale 37 is substantially six inches from the edge 3 ol' the steel rule1,I and therefore one-half inch equals one inch on the scale 37.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation there of may be readily understood.` "With reference to Figure1, let us assume that it is desired to obtain certain measurements for 1roof construction or the like, and that the pitch is one-half pitch ordegrees. In this event, the blade 14 will be moved to the position shownin Figure 1, and the thumb nut 17 tightened. It will be noted that thetheexactlength of any rafteigthe'carpentery left hand edge of the ruley14 is therefore in registration with the twelve. inch marksyof f thesides 2 and 3-'of thesteel-square 1. The length lof the lcommon rafterreadable'- in the column, 22 of the blade 14,isthereforef1697 inchesandthe length 'oflthe common hip or valley is 20.78inches. "This y*isread` abovey they line which is in registration withl-the mark twelveinches ,on the side 2 of theisteelsquare 1. To calculatefrom'fthisrea-'ding mustmultiply the/*run ofthe rafter,l i.- e.,one-half the width of the build-ing, b-ythe reading shown in columns 22and7 23. Let

I us saythe vbuildingsissi'nteen feet wide. The run isthereforeveightffeet. -16.97asshown on the blade 14for a yone-halfpitch istherefore multiplied by 8, whichywill give 135296Y in columnl 24, whichisl -for sixteen-*inchfcen` Ai n ters, is225/g inches,-whichmeans-thatthe first set iof-jacks isy 22% inches shorter? than theprecedingsets until alla-re-cut.= -If-,fhowever, the j acksare'to beusedon;twentyfour inch centers,rthen the reading ofi-theI column 25,which is" for twenty" four#inch-centers, indicates that the jacks mustbe cut 34'inche's shorterthan:thepreced'ifngfsets until all sets arecut.

Let us now refer for further information in this same problem to theopposite side of the rule. This may be done by unfastening the thumb nut17 and drawing the flange 1S out of engagement with the outer face ofthe blade 14. Then this is done, the blade 14 may be raised so that thestem of the mushroom button 15 may be moved up into the enlarged recessof the slot, and the blade removed. The blade is then reversed and thebutton on the opposite side of the blade is inserted into the recess 10after which the stem thereof is moved downwardly into the slot` and thethumb nut 17 adjusted to lock the blade 14 into registration with themark 12 on the long side of the steel square 1. This side of the bladeis shownV in Figure and our first reading will be in columns 26 and 27.It will be noted that the line indicated at X will fall intoregistration with the marl: 12 and the legends above this line and forcolumns 26 and 27, are 17 and 12 inches, respectively. The valuesdesignated by the legends in columns 26 and 27 above the line X are forthe side out ofthe jacks. The side cut for the hipor valley atridge,'will be fou-'nd in columns 28 and 29, and-in this particular caseare 207/8 inches, and 17inches,-1`-espec y y70 tively.

A Let us assume now -thatthe work vupon wlnchi dnnensions' andmeasurements l are necessary is work requiring a lpitchgreater v thantheblade v14- is capableoff reaching. i' In this event, thefblade 14 isremoved'from-the5 protractor 4in" the manner heretoforedescribed and theblade`35, which is precisely the same, except that the bla-de 3 5lrasjhigher values, is movedintol its place,` andthe aux` iliary rule 30is ino-ved into itsrespjectivelv socket 33, :with that sid'e'bearinglegends designating valuesfrom '25 to49toward :the right. ".Fheoperationofthe blade 35 on the auxiliary rule4 30 is precisely the same as thebladeY 14 on the long: side 2fof-the steel-square'.

it is therefore tjhou'ght to vbeunnecessary-to describe such operationyin detail.

The. blade 35, however, is not capable v'of readingjfor a Kgreater pitchwhich" isithe greatest 'pitch that'the v mark-48 offthe auxiliary rule;30 indicates, rand;*if*higher values Aare wanted, that is workreq'u-iieing; a vhigher. pitch, it will be `necessary to'g'wi-thdrawttheauxiliary rule 30 `fronr'the soeket 33, reverse the rule, and` insertit-:injan-in verted position in the socket'J 34', whereupon a third.blade 36, havingV values `higher*'than thefbla-de 35, is insertedvupont'he; protractor 4 in the manner heretofore' described."v L

Let us assume that, it ispdesired touigure accurately` the exact taperof a" straight edge in inches, per foo-t of a stack, sayi89-degrees Tothis end, any one of Vthe f' three blades 14, 35, or 36 may beemployed-and theblade moved so that its left or upper edge is inregistration with the mark of the protractor scale 12. The reading intaper of the straight edge in inches per foot may be read directly uponthe scale 37 Fig. 6.

Another important use of my improved carpenters measuring` device is fordetermining the relative length and size for polygonal cuts. Let us saythat it is desired to cut miter cuts for a four sided figure, i. e., asquare. 180O as divided by 4 is equal to degrees. Any one of the bladesmay be used and is set with its upper edge in registration with the 45degree mark on the protractor scale 12. The reading upon the lengths 1and 3 of the square will be 12-12 In other words, the pivotal center ofthe blade is 12 inches on one side of the square and the bladeintersects the remaining side of the square at the 12 inch mark.

Let us say now that it is desired to cut the miter for an 8 side figure.180 degrees divided by 8 is equal to 221/2 degrees. If the blade is thenmoved on its pivotal center to 221/2 degreesv on the protractor scale,the reading on the longest side of the square 1 l Will be approximately5 inches.

The cut Will therefore be a miter having 5 inches for one side and l2inches `tor the other.

I claim:

l. The combination with a carpenters square and a protractor disposedWith its quadrant intermediate the adjacent sides of said square, of ablade having longitudinally disposed columns of legends designatingmeasurements relevant to carpentry arranged to be pivotally supported onan axis common With the axis of said quadrant, whereby said blade maycross one of the sides of said square when said blade is set with itsedge at certain points on said quadrant, the legends on said blade atthe intersecting point of said blade and said side of said squaredesignating measurements relevant to the pitch at which said blade isset relevant to said quadrant.

2. The combination with a carpenters square and a protractor iixed Withits quadrant intermediate the adjacent side of said square, of a bladehaving longitudinally disposed columns of legends designatingmeasurements relevant to carpentry arranged to be pivotally supported onan axis in common With the axis of said quadrant, whereby said blade andthe longer sides of said square may cross one another when said blade isset at certain points on said quadrant, and an auxiliary rule arrangedte be fixed on said quadrant in parallel relation with the longer sideof said square, but said auxiliary rule being calibrated to indicatelengths of higher value than those indicated on the longer side of saidsquare.

3. In a device of the character described, a protractor having aquadrant, a blade arlranged to be pivotally mounted on the axis of saidquadrant and removable therefrom, said blade having longitudinallydisposed columns of legends designating values relevant to carpentry,and an auxiliary rule arranged to be disposed in perpendicular relationWith the base of said protrae-tor and being calibrated to indicatelinear measurements.

4. In a device of the character described, a protractor having aquadrant, a blade ar ranged to be pivotally mounted on the axis of saidquadrant and removable therefrom, said blade having longitudinallydisposed columns of legends designating values relevant to carpentry, anauxiliary rule arranged to be disposed in perpendicular relation withthe basev of said protractor and being calibrated to indicate linearmeasurements, and means for locking said blade against movement relativeto said quadrant.

5. In a device of the character described, a protractor having aquadrant, an auxiliar)Y rule arranged to be disposed in pcrpen dicularrelation with the base of said pro tractor and beingi dalibrated toindicate linear measurements, said auxiliary rule being calibrated onits opposite edge in an inverted manner to indicate legends designatinglinear measurements but of higher values than the calibrations on theopposite edge, saidauxiliary rule being arranged te be inverted anddisposed at a point adjacent the higher values on said quadrant, and anauxiliary blade, said auxiliary blade having longitudinally disposedcolumns oi legends designating measurements relevant to carpentry.

PETER WALDO ZOOK,

